Getting Ready

Lind dodged an attack from behind with the ease of someone who had eyes on his back, swiftly turning to strike his assailant in the chest with his sword. Had it been a real sword, the attacker would have been gravely injured. However, the attacker was still able to continue the assault, with two more joining in to encircle Lind.

Ordinarily, anyone would be flustered under such a barrage, but Lind moved with the lightness of a deer, his movements as free as a butterfly among flowers, effortlessly dodging incoming attacks and counterattacking with precision.

Had Lind been wielding actual swords and had the attackers been armored, they might have been dead several times over. Even so, some of Lind's retaliations managed to penetrate the armor's gaps, hitting unprotected spots and causing considerable pain.

"Stop, stop!" After one of Lind's wooden swords poked through the armor, hitting one of the attackers, he could no longer bear the pain, stepping back and signaling a stop, then removed his armor to show off his bruised body, gasping, "No more training; the compensation for sparring won't cover my healing costs."

Seeing one stop, the other two sparring partners, also pushed to their limits, laid down their wooden swords and shields, indicating they had enough.

Lind, panting heavily and leaning on his wooden sword, looked apologetically at the three sparring partners Bain had meticulously selected.

Half a month after his full recovery, without any word from Bain, though Will had been found, he hadn't given Bain a clear response, merely stating to wait until Red Lake needed more guards.

Lind wasn't worried; he was confident that with his capabilities and his reputation as a bear slayer, the Cleganes wouldn't overlook such a valuable asset, potentially bypassing the need to start from the bottom.

After setting aside thoughts of becoming a guard, Lind focused on various forms of training, with physical and swordsmanship training being primary, though he lacked real combat practice.

Seeing Lind's solo sword practice, Bain felt continuing alone was futile and began hiring mercenaries from passing caravans for real combat training.

Initially, the training was one-on-one, but Lind easily overpowered his opponents, rendering the training ineffective.

Feeling his dual-wielding swordsmanship was too advanced for common mercenaries, Lind suggested increasing the number of opponents. After less than ten days of such training, he could easily handle three mercenaries, speculating that only five might present him with a challenge.

Despite showcasing remarkable swordsmanship during these sessions, Lind also revealed his physical limitations; intense battles wore him out after just a few minutes, a weakness not quickly mended without extensive training.

As Bain handed out ointment to the hired mercenaries, he analyzed that ordinary mercenaries no longer posed a challenge to Lind, suggesting real combat against seasoned warriors for significant improvement and recommended focusing on physical training to gain weight.

Accepting Bain's advice, Lind agreed to adjust his training approach. Bain, surprised at Lind's acceptance, noted a change from his previously stubborn nature.

Rumors quickly spread in White Village and among passing caravans that Lind's rapid physical changes were due to consuming the spirit of the bear he had slain, further augmenting his fearsome reputation.

Lind felt increasingly uneasy in White Village, recognizing the villagers' attempts to take advantage of him during his near-death experience without holding any grudge, as he had no real attachment to the village or its people, understanding their actions as survival instincts.

Considering improving relations with the villagers for future advantages, Lind saw the village's manpower as a crucial resource, given most were archers or had some swordsmanship skills, easily trained into formidable fighters.

Lind contemplated recruiting from White Village for a position within a noble's army, but the villagers' fear and suspicion thwarted his plans before they could begin, sensing that even if he tried to mend relations, they wouldn't believe his intentions were genuine.

Rather than quash the exaggerated rumors of his powers, Lind decided to embrace them, further deepening the villagers' awe and making them unwitting promoters of his legendary exploits.

As Lind completed his daily training and headed to Bain's tavern for his specially prepared weight-gain meals, he was blocked by a nobleman.

"You are the bear slayer, taller than I imagined, very good!" A richly dressed noble scrutinized Lind with a haughty gaze, nodding as if appraising an item.

Lind glanced at the young noble, who tried to appear older with a deliberately kept beard, noting the golden crane emblem on the saddle of a high-quality horse at the tavern's entrance and the six soldiers following the noble, guessing at his identity.

Though Lind had an idea of the noble's identity, he didn't know his intentions, sensing some hostility in his gaze.

Despite sensing hostility, Lind showed no alarm, stepping back while hand resting on his hatchet, asking warily, "Who are you? I don't know you."

The noble frowned at Lind's impolite reaction but quickly regained his arrogant demeanor, about to signal his soldiers to introduce himself.

"What are you up to, boy!" Bain suddenly burst out from the tavern, aiming to smack Lind's head but only managed to pat his back due to the height difference, squeezing Lind's arm as a silent signal before bowing to the young noble, "Lord Clovis, please don't blame him. Since recovering, he's become extra sensitive to everything around him, like a startled rabbit, not intentionally disrespecting you. Ask around the village if you don't believe me!"

"A rabbit? This rabbit is quite large. Old Bain, no need to explain, I know what he is, the brave bear slayer!" The young noble glared at Bain, signaling him to stop talking, then turned to Lind, "I am Sir Clovis Clegane of Red Lake. I heard of your legend in the tavern and was curious to see what the bear slayer looks like. You're not quite what I expected, but still decent."

Lind remained silent, simply watching.

Seeing no response from Lind, Sir Clovis felt insulted, his expression darkening, then smirked as if recalling something, his look turning to one of seeing Lind as beneath him, "However, I still find the rumors hard to believe, so…"

He signaled a soldier with a glance, stepping back, "Since you managed to hunt a bear, defeating my armed man here barehanded shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

"Lord…" Bain's face turned pale, attempting to plead for Lind, knowing well the disadvantage of fighting unarmed against an armed and armored opponent, doubting even Lind's dual-wielding skill could prevail under such disparity.

"Old Bain, I know you tried to get Will to include the bear slayer in the guard. I'm merely testing if he's worthy to join," Sir Clovis stopped Bain's plea, revealing Bain's recent actions in Red Lake, then pretended to remember something, "Oh, right, I forgot to mention earlier, Will was dismissed for embezzlement and will be executed with other prisoners. The new captain of the Red Lake guards is me, Sir Clovis Clegane."

Hearing this, Bain realized he had unwittingly entangled in the Clegane family's power struggle, with Sir Clovis intending to teach him a lesson.

Seeing no way to alter the situation, Bain apologetically patted Lind's shoulder, whispering, "Fight with all your strength, don't hold back."